Operations and Project Management: Review of Unilever PLC's Practices

This report provides a comprehensive review and critique of operations management principles within Unilever PLC. It begins with an introduction to Unilever PLC, highlighting its global presence and long-standing success. The report differentiates between operations and operations management, emphasizing the role of operations in generating revenue and the importance of efficient resource utilization. It then analyzes the implementation of operations management principles within Unilever, focusing on reality, success, accountability, organization, and fundamentals. The report assesses how Unilever's operations management meets organizational requirements, including competitive advantage, profitability management, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing edge. Furthermore, it discusses continuous improvement as a philosophy and describes Lean principles, such as defining value, mapping the value stream, creating flow, and establishing pull. The report concludes by underscoring the significance of these principles in optimizing Unilever's operational efficiency and effectiveness. Desklib offers a wealth of similar resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their academic endeavors.

ID
Unit Number and Title Unit 187 –
Operations and
Project Management
Title Review and Critique
of Operations
Management (Part
1

Table of Content
Part 1: Business Report
1. An introduction to chosen organization 3
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management 3
3. A review and critique of the implementation of operations
management principles within the chosen organization 5
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of
the organisation in the case study meets the requirements of the
organization 6
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and
describe the Lean principles 7
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review and
critique of operations management principles within your
organization 8
7. Conclusion 9
References 10
2

1. An introduction to chosen organization
Operation are considered as an action which are perform in the organization so they
the business can generate the revenue. Operation management is nothing but
performing of operations in the organization properly which will the organization to
reduce the cost earn maximum profit (Amara and et.al., 2019). This report includes
the information about operation, operational management, principles of operation
management, analysis of operation management and many more. All these things
are explained in the context of the Unilever PLC. Unilever PLC is a multinational
British company which provide grocery and health care product to their customers all
over the world. This company provide their product in almost 190 countries. They are
successfully running their business since 1929 almost 93 years. Their many reasons
for their success and effective operational management is also one of them. The
Unilever PLC have implemented their polices at the right time which leads them to
grow their business rapidly.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Operations refers to the activity and decisions made by the members and employees
of the business which the make an impact on the manufacturing, distributing,
servicing and many more. This activity is done in every organisation . The main aim
of the operations is to earn the maximum profit for the organisation. The operations
are concerned on the quality of product, Preparation of plan business engagement
and resource utilisation. It is also helps in providing the satisfaction of the demand of
the customers. The Unilever PLC is the largest producer of soap in the world. This
company include various brands like Lifebuoy, Dove, Sun-silk, Axe, Ben & jerry and
many more. This company was established by Lever Brothers and Dutch Margarine.
Operations management: It is considered as an administration of business
activity which helps them to create the maximum level of efficiency with in an
organisation. It helps the business to convert the raw material into finished good with
great efficiency so that they can increase the profit of the organisation (Johns, 2019).
The efficiency can be achieve through managing and fully utilisation of resources.
3

The resources includes various items like raw material, labour, employees,
technologies and many more through the organisation have achieve their goals.
Through operational management the organisation can easily beat their competitors
which also leads them to grow their business very rapidly (Liff and Wahlstrom, 2018).
The one and only aim of the organisation management is to utilise the resources of
the organisation effectively and efficiently so that the goal of expanding their
business can be achieve.
Operations Operations and
Management
 Operations includes the day to day
activity of the organisation. The
activity includes the process of
improving of the product and
services of the organisation.
 The Operational activity of the
Unilever is to sell the product in
the market to the costumer so that
the can earn larger profit.
 Operation management is
interconnection with all the
process of the business
like managing, producing,
controlling, distributing of
the goods and services
efficiently and effectively so
that the organisation can
achieve their goals.
 The above point can be
clearly understand by the
example of Unilever
because they are
performing their operational
management very
effectively that's the reason
they are able to get
success in the country. The
Unilever is fully utilising
their product and services
which will lead them to the
next level of development.
4

3. A review and critique of the implementation of
operations management principles within the chosen
organization
The principles of operational management are as follows:
1. Reality- The operational management have to focus on the very important
matters of the organization because if they did not focus on them then it can lead the
business to the consequences. The Unilever PLC should have to focus on their
product and services which can help them to grow their business continuously. They
also have to focus on the technologies which which are used in the generating of
profit (Munaro, Tavares, and Bragança, 2020).
2. Success- The second points is success it means that the success of
organization is depend on how the objectives and targets are being measured and
evaluate. The Unilever have to measure the demand of the consumer in the market
so that they can satisfy their needs easily. This action also helps them to achieve the
success in the organization.
3. Accountability- Accountability is very important asset for every
organisation. The persons who are responsible for performance of operations in the
organisation are considered as accountable for the any good or bad doings. In
Unilever the managers are the accountable persons because they are one who
control all the function of the organisation. They control the external and internal
environment of the business. That why they are considered as accountable persons.
4. Organization- Business like Unilever PLC have many branches all over the
world. Each branches have different operations all the operation are interconnected
with each other. They are required to be consistent and should be easily estimated
for the organization. If the the operations of the business get failed and it may lead to
discontinuation while doing task or while approaching a objective.
5. Fundamentals- The Unilever have to be clear about the area which helps
them in achieving the success and goal. In operations management , the Pareto
rules of efficiency also included which tells about the 80-20 ratio. It means that the
5

organization which are performing their operation management properly (Atanda and
Öztürk, 2020). Then it means the that the company will be able to achieve the 80%
success and 20% will be derived from the applications of technologies and
procedures.
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations
management of the organisation in the case study meets
the requirements of the organization
As it is discussed already that operation management play a very important role in
the organization because it helps in it helps in managing, controlling and supervising
of goods, services and human resources. It is use in every type of business and
organization that's why it is considered as universal function (Abyaa, Khalidi Idrissi
and Bennani, 2019). The analysis of operation management is method through
which the performance of the operational investment can be examined. It also helps
in establishing the set of cost, programs and achievement factors. The operation
management can meet the requirement from the following ways-
1. Competitive Advantage- The very first requirement is the competitive
advantage. Through this operation management the Unilever is bale to achieve the
competitive advantage. It means that the organization can easily understand the
inside and outside factors. Inside factors such as operating policies, abrasion rate,
and rational capital. External factors includes strategies used by their competitors to
beat them. Operational management developed the ability of competitiveness so that
they can maintain their position in the market.
2. Profitability management- The next requirement which is fulfill by the
operation management is managing of profit in the organization. By the help of
proper operation management Unilever PLC is able to execute policies due to this
they are able to increase the sales. Through the professional and experienced
operational manager the organization are able to minimize the expenses and reduce
the cost as a result the profit of organization get increase.
3. Regulatory compliance- Proper operation management also leads the
Unilever in compliance of legal activities. Through which the organization can be free
from the huge fines charge by government (Horwitz and Mellahi, 2018). The
6

departmental heads control the task of organization regularly and able to follow all
the rules and regulation which are made by the government.
4. Manufacturing Edge- It means the small improvement in the method of
manufacturing or producing goods can save large amount money for the company. It
brings availability of funds in the organization due to which they can use that money
in the expansion of their production capacity (Bassano and et.al., 2019). That activity
also leads to increase in the size and scale of the Unilever PLC. The organization is
also to improve the image by providing more effective products to their consumer.
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy
and describe the Lean principles
Continuous improvement also known as ongoing improvement. This activity provide
many benefits to the organizations. It bring innovation, increasing in quality which
also added some value in the goodwill of the Unilever PLC. The continuous
improvement can be done by the help of proper research and continuous
development in the mind set of the persons who are involved in this activity. It is
depend on the thought that dragging and steady betterment which are executed
persevering can result in transformational changes in an organization.
Leans principles include the methodologies which helps the Unilever PLC to
control and manage the unwanted wastage which are done in the organization.
These principles provide support to the managers in reducing the cost and fix
minimum value of product.
The Lean principles are given below-
Define value- Before understanding the first principle it is very important to
learn what is value. Value is considered as the amount which the customers of the
organization are desiring to pay. It founds very hard to identify the actual and
potential requirement of the consumer. Some time there is phase face by the
organization when the observe that the customer did not what they want (Sunarsi,
2019). This situation comes at places which are related to technologies, or novel
products. Through different techniques the organizations are able to solve that
problems. The techniques are interviews, surveys and demographic information.
7

Through these techniques the organizations are able to discover the need and wants
of the consumers.
Map the Value Stream- The next lean principle is identifying and process the
value stream. In this step the organizations have utilize their customer's value as a
remark point which helps them to find out the contribution in these values. Those
actions which did not increase any value to the final consumer are considered as
total waste(Li and et.al., 2018). The waste is divided in two parts first one is non
added value but important and next one is non added value and unnecessary. This
principles helps the organization in improving the product and reducing the cost.
Create Flow- This principles states that the functions of the organization
should run smoothly without any disturbance or delay. This can be done only by the
map the values stream. For smooth flow of activity the organizations have to adopt
several strategies like breaking down steps, reform the production steps, removing of
the pressure, establishing the cross functional department, provide training to
employees so that they can do multi skill work and also able to adapt the difficulties
easily.
Establish pull- The fourth lean principles is establish pull. This principles
states the method through the wastage of raw material can be eliminate. This
principle tell that the organization have to make or manufacture their product when
there is a need in the market. Pull based system is always been made from the need
of the final consumer. Through follow of the value stream principles and working
backward the organization is able to satisfy the demand of the consumer.
Pursue Perfection- From all of the above principles the organizations are
able to remove the waste problem in the organization which also leads them in
increasing the profitability. After doing all these step the organization have to perform
the functions continuously so that they can became perfect and efficient in their work
which also increase the quality and quantity of the products produce by the
organization (Krivý, 2018).
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review
8

and critique of operations management principles within
your organization
Continuous improvement of plan contain a several steps which are formed to bring
the changes and modification in the product of the organization so it can provide
more satisfaction the final consumer (Lazzeretti and et.al., 2019). The various steps
of continuous set of plan for the Unilever are as follows-
Plan- The first step which the Unilever have to complete is the plan. The
Unilever is always looking for an opportunity make the changes in their products.
They are doing it because the consumer need and wants are changing continuously.
So keep up with the consumer the organization plan for making continuous
improvement in their product. The Unilever PLC always thinking about the future that
the what will be the demand of the consumer in future.
Do: The next step in continuous improvement is that they Unilever implement
the plan in their business activities. So that they can satisfy the need and wants of
the consumer. The Unilever apply their plan after analyzing the market trend
accurately.
Check: This step is done after executing the plan in the organization. The
Unilever have to check the operations of the organization regularly. This step helps
them in analyzing the hurdles while executing the plan in the organization. This step
is considered as very integral step because it helps them in find out that they doing
their operations right or not.
Act: This is the last step of the continuous improvement. In this step the
Unilever should have to establish those on a large scale where the variation were not
get affected (Badrinarayanan and et.al., 2019). It should begin the cycle of
continuous operation again.
7. Conclusion
From the above it can be that the operations and operation management are
two separate notions. It is because the operation include the day to day activities
which are held in organization for generating profit. While operation management
consist different number of activities which are interconnected each other and helps
the organization in managing and controlling of the products and services in the
9

organization. The above report also include the information about the Unilever. The
above shows that how the operations and operation management work in the
Unilever. From the above report it can be observed that the Unilever is performing
their functions accurately and efficiently. That the reason they are successfully
running their business smoothly from a very long period of time.
References
Amara, A.W. and et.al., 2019. Self-reported physical activity levels and clinical
progression in early Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism & related
disorders. 61, pp.118-125.
Johns, F., 2019. From planning to prototypes: New ways of seeing like a state. The
Modern Law Review. 82(5), pp.833-863.
Liff, R. and Wahlstrom, G., 2018. Usefulness of enterprise risk management in two
banks. Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management.
Munaro, M.R., Tavares, S.F. and Bragança, L., 2020. Towards circular and more
sustainable buildings: A systematic literature review on the circular economy
in the built environment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 260, p.121134.
Atanda, J.O. and Öztürk, A., 2020. Social criteria of sustainable development in
relation to green building assessment tools. Environment, Development and
Sustainability. 22(1), pp.61-87.
Abyaa, A., Khalidi Idrissi, M. and Bennani, S., 2019. Learner modelling: systematic
review of the literature from the last 5 years. Educational Technology
Research and Development. 67(5), pp.1105-1143.
Horwitz, F.M. and Mellahi, K., 2018. Human resource management in emerging
markets. Human Resource Management. pp.337-357.
Bassano, C. and et.al., 2019. Storytelling about places: Tourism marketing in the
digital age. Cities. 87, pp.10-20.
Sunarsi, D., 2019. Penerapan MSDM Strategis Dalam Upaya Meningkatkan
Kemampuan Organisasi dalam menyongsong Revolusi 4.0. Jurnal Ilmiah
MEA (Manajemen, Ekonomi, & Akuntansi). 3(1), pp.221-233.
Li, C. and et.al., 2018. A systematic review of fuzzy formalisms for bearing fault
diagnosis. IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems. 27(7), pp.1362-1382.
Krivý, M., 2018. Towards a critique of cybernetic urbanism: The smart city and the
society of control. Planning Theory. 17(1), pp.8-30.
Lazzeretti, L. and et.al., 2019. Rethinking clusters. Towards a new research agenda
for cluster research. European Planning Studies. 27(10), pp.1879-1903.
Badrinarayanan, V. and et.al., 2019. Resource orchestration and dynamic
managerial capabilities: focusing on sales managers as effective resource
orchestrators. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management. 39(1),
pp.23-41.
10

Table of Content
Part 2: Project Portfolio
Project Title 12
An overview of the case study you have been given 12
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your
selected project, including supporting documentation for each
stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit analysis
and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation 12
 Project planning 12
 Project execution 13
 Project closure 13
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used 13
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in
application to your project using the appropriate theories models
and concepts 14
11

Project Title
The main objective of this project is to provide best catering services at the
places where the customer wants. The delivery of the food must be reach on time for
which the employees of organization have to work effectively.
An overview of the case study you have been given
After reading the case study it can be observed that the it is large scale
organization which is providing employment to 1250 peoples. These employees are
providing their services into different sectors (Arena, 2019). The main objective of
this organization is to reduce the over crowed due to regular mobility of the
employees during lunch period. This activity of employees also reduce the image
and effective working of the organization. The case study also informs about the
health care facility for the employees. From the case study it can find out that the
organization have to adopt the new strategies which can help them maintaining
attendance of the employee and reduce absenteeism. The organization also have to
provide various sources so that the staff of the organization did not able to do this
kind of work again in future. The case study include the problem face by the society
due to the activities of the employees when they are free from work.
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to
your selected project, including supporting documentation
for each stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-
benefit analysis and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation
Project initiation is the very first step in the entire primed of beginning with planning a
project. It helps in explaining the complete project which the organization have
planned for. In this step the direct focus is to determine that reason that the
organization select this project and what amount will they earn by completing this
project. This information helps the businesses when they require funds for their
operations. Due to this reason they ask investment from the investors. At that time
they can use this information so that they can attract. For the organization the project
is initiated so that the they can be able provide on catering facility to the employees
to reduce over crowed and also include the plan which help the employees in
improving their living standard.
 Project planning
Project planning is considered as a rules and regulations for the organization which
have to be followed in the future. It also include definite time frame in the
organization have to complete the project. The project planning contains following
steps which have top be followed. The steps are setting measurable objectives, have
to find-out transferal and programming (Atmaca, Atmaca and Özçetin, 2021). The
12

project planning is very important it helps in determine the scope, objectives, goals
and schedule of the project in which the organization is working. Planning helps in
increasing of resources , determining the budget and evaluate the risk related to the
project. According to the case study of the organization the project planning of the
organization helps them to find out the strategies so that they can increase efficiency
of the employees (Berger and et.al., 2018).
 Project execution
Project execution is that step of project where everything which the members of the
organization planned is put into the performance. The main objective of this step is to
improve the the expected result that must be delivered on the right time within the
limit of budget so that they can fulfill consumer's qualitative needs and wants. It helps
the organization in bringing out from the darkness and into the lights. According to
the case study this step is considered as most important step because it will decide
the fortune of the company. It means that whether the company get success or might
get failed in their operations. It is proved to successful only when the attendance of
the employees in the organization get increase by a very big margin. It is because
without full capacity of workforce the organization cannot be able to achieve their
targets. If they did not able to achieve it the organization can face many
consequences. That's why this step is considered as a most important step of in the
project planning.
 Project closure
Project closure is made by the combination of two assumption the first one is that all
the work in project is completed or all the activities included in the project has been
executed accurately. The final result of the project is bear by the owner of the
organization. The project closure is has been done by various steps which are
formally transfer of all items, confirmation of project completion, review of all
projects, release resources, Archive documentation. If all these activities has been
done then it means that the project is completed. In case study the project will
assume to completed only when the organization absenteeism of the employees has
been reduced. All the goals have to be achieved and employees of the organization
must be satisfied with the facilities provided to them (El‐Houjeiri and et.al., 2019).
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used
Project Methodologies: Project methodologies is also considered as a principles or
as set plan through the organizations can easily perform their activities and achieve
their objectives. These methodologies are used in planning, initiating and executing
of the project. These methodologies are as follows-
Waterfall methodologies: It is considered as one of the most straight
forward methodology of project management. It contain various stages and stage
starts after the end of previous stages (Hahnel, Whyte and Biswas, 2021). It means
that if the any previous stage did not complete then the organization cannot be able
13

to move forward to the next stage. This is considered as a most traditional approach
of the project management. Through this method the organization can define the
separate role to their employees so that the confusion and chaos can be removed
completely. In this method the objectives and plans did not change after it starts. So
the this approach did not adapt the changes which take place in the business
environment. That's why it is considered as a traditional approach (Jalaei and et.al.,
2020).
Agile methodology: This is the next methodology of the project
management. It include short period of time as compare to the waterfall
methodology. This methodology is completely adaptable it means that it can the
changes which has been made during the project. The changes can be made
because in present time nothing is constant due to can in economic factors of the
business environment.
From the above two methodologies it can be observed that the Agile methodologies
are useful to adopt in the project management. It is because it is flexible in nature
and can adapt the changes according to the time and condition of the business. If
the project management management does not change according to the time then
the organization cannot be able to achieve their goals.
Project Tools- Project Tools helps the organizations in achieving their objectives.
Tools like network diagram, project evaluation, review techniques and project
documentation help the organization in achieving the effective goals. These tools
helps the organization by informing about the new changes and development made
in the business environment so the organization can became friendly with those
changes. Through these tools the organization can be able to make their plans
according the changes made in the environment of the businesses. These tools also
helps in determining the benefits of the of the Agile methodologies whether it gives
profit or loss.
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC
in application to your project using the appropriate
theories models and concepts
The project life cycle refers to the sequence of steps necessary for the progress and
completion of a project (Kaswan and et.al., 2020). It is basically an arrangement of
all the steps a project manager needs to successfully initiate and complete a project.
The sequence of the project life cycle is initiation, planning, execution, and closure.
For the case study given above, the project life cycle played a major role in planning,
initiating, executing and reviewing the establishment of an on-site food service
project, maintaining a healthy lifestyle for employees and reducing organizational
staffing. The project life cycle helps the organization analyze, assess and review any
issues or deviations from the planned project and work in these areas to improve the
final outcome of the project as needed. Project methods and agile methods used by
waterfall organizations. The waterfall method is a method that helps to organize the
14

plan and divide the project into small phases to properly complete the tasks in the
project. It also applies many frequent tests and reassessments through agile
methods to check that the project is proceeding as expected (Luo and et.al., 2021).
References
Arena, N., 2019, May. Life-cycle assessment applied to construction of Thames
Tideway east tunnel, London, UK. In Proceedings of the Institution of Civil
Engineers-Engineering Sustainability. (Vol. 172, No. 8, pp. 416-423).
Thomas Telford Ltd.
Atmaca, N., Atmaca, A. and Özçetin, A.İ., 2021. The impacts of restoration and
reconstruction of a heritage building on life cycle energy consumption and
related carbon dioxide emissions. Energy and Buildings. 253, p.111507.
Berger, M. and et.al., 2018, October. Harmonizing LCIA of mineral resource use-
guidance from the UN Environment Life Cycle Initiative task force.
In Ecobalance 2018.
El‐Houjeiri, H. and et.al., 2019. Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions
from marine fuels: a case study of Saudi crude oil versus natural gas in
different global regions. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 23(2), pp.374-388.
Hahnel, G., Whyte, A. and Biswas, W.K., 2021. A comparative life cycle assessment
of structural flooring systems in Western Australia. Journal of Building
Engineering. 35, p.102109.
Jalaei, F. and et.al., 2020. Exploring the effects that a non-stationary climate and
dynamic electricity grid mix has on whole building life cycle assessment: A
multi-city comparison. Sustainable Cities and Society. 61, p.102294.
Kaswan, M.S. and et.al., 2020. Life cycle assessment framework for sustainable
development in manufacturing environment. In Advances in intelligent
manufacturing. (pp. 103-113). Springer, Singapore.
Luo, W. and et.al., 2021. Life cycle carbon cost of buildings under carbon trading
and carbon tax system in China. Sustainable Cities and Society. 66,
p.102509.
15